Core42, the G42 company pioneering sovereign cloud and AI infrastructure, has appointed veteran technology leader Sherif Tawfik as its new Chief Business Officer (CBO), signalling a major push to scale its global commercial operations and expand the reach of its sovereign AI cloud platforms.
In his new role, Tawfik will lead Core42’s entire worldwide commercial organisation, overseeing global sales, marketing, partnerships, business development, and all revenue‑generating services. His remit includes strengthening international market presence and accelerating adoption of Core42’s sovereign cloud, compute, and AI infrastructure solutions amid surging global demand for secure, nation‑scale AI platforms.
Tawfik brings nearly 30 years of global technology leadership, including more than 25 years at Microsoft, where he held senior executive roles across the Middle East, Africa, and Europe. Known for building large‑scale cloud and AI businesses, he has been instrumental in driving multinational partnerships and enabling digital transformation for governments and enterprises across emerging markets.
“Core42 is building the digital infrastructure backbone that will power the next generation of AI economies.” — Sherif Tawfik, Chief Business Officer, Core42
Talal M. Al Kaissi, Interim CEO of Core42, said Tawfik’s experience will be pivotal as Core42 continues to scale internationally. “Sherif brings deep commercial leadership and a strong track record building technology partnerships at global scale. Having played a pivotal role in shaping the G42–Microsoft partnership, he understands both the global technology landscape and the national infrastructure ambitions driving AI adoption today.”
Prior to joining Core42, Tawfik served as Chief Partnership Officer for the G42 & Microsoft Global Alliance, where he oversaw one of the world’s most significant sovereign cloud and AI partnerships. His work enabled advanced AI adoption, secure cloud deployments, and digital transformation initiatives for governments and enterprises across multiple regions.
Speaking on his appointment, Tawfik said he is joining at a critical inflection point for AI infrastructure. “Nations and enterprises are moving from ambition to large‑scale AI deployment. My focus will be on expanding our global commercial reach and helping customers deploy AI and cloud infrastructure that is trusted, sovereign, and built for production.”
Tawfik is also the Co‑Founder and CEO of Fusion Minds AI, an initiative focused on responsible AI and generative AI for sustainability.
The appointment comes as Core42 accelerates its global footprint, expanding from its UAE base to support governments, enterprises, and research institutions with scalable sovereign AI cloud infrastructure.
